Aggregated MPLS BFD Control Packets for Bandwidth Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for multiple Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) sessions consume high network resources, particularly bandwidth and computing resources, due to the frequent transmission of BFD control packets, especially when fast failure detection is required and a large number of sessions need to be monitored.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using a single BFD control packet to indicate the 'UP' state of multiple MPLS-BFD sessions between an egress and ingress network device, where the egress device transmits a BFD control packet with an ingress group identifier that updates multiple MPLS BFD sessions, reducing the number of periodic control packets and conserving network resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple individual BFD control packets are transmitted for each MPLS BFD session, then fast failure detection is achieved, but network bandwidth and computing resources are consumed excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection speedVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple individual BFD control packets into a single aggregated control packet that carries status information for multiple MPLS BFD sessions simultaneously. This is achieved by introducing a group identifier field that groups multiple sessions and consolidating the session status indicators within one packet structure, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining fast failure detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregated BFD control packet serves multiple functions: it provides failure detection for multiple MPLS sessions, carries group identification for session grouping, and maintains individual session status tracking. This multi-functional approach allows a single packet type to replace multiple specialized packets, optimizing resource usage while preserving detection speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If multiple individual BFD control packets are transmitted for each MPLS BFD session, then session status is accurately tracked, but computing resources at network devices are consumed excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession status tracking accuracyVSAvoidcomputing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple session status indicators into a single aggregated control packet structure. Each session's status is represented by a status indicator field within the aggregated packet, allowing accurate tracking of multiple sessions while reducing the computational overhead of processing individual packets for each session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregated BFD control packet is segmented into distinct fields: a group identifier field for session grouping and status indicator fields for individual sessions. This segmentation allows the receiving device to efficiently parse and process only the relevant session information without handling multiple separate packets, reducing computing resource consumption while maintaining precise session status tracking.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If fast failure detection is implemented with multiple BFD sessions, then network reliability improves, but bandwidth consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork failure detectionVSAvoidcontrol packet volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple BFD control packets into a single aggregated packet that carries failure detection information for multiple MPLS sessions. By consolidating the control packet volume while maintaining fast detection intervals, the patent reduces the quantity of control traffic on the network while preserving network reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregated BFD control packets are transmitted at periodic intervals to maintain fast failure detection across multiple sessions. This periodic transmission approach, combined with aggregation, allows the system to achieve reliable failure detection without the continuous high-volume packet transmission that would result from sending individual packets for each session.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS10819626B2Method and apparatus for updating multiple multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) sessions

Publication Date: 2020.10.27 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for updating multiple multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) sessions are described. In response to determining that an MPLS BFD session is in an up state, an egress network device (ND) determines whether the MPLS BFD session is part of a plurality of MPLS BFD sessions; and responsive to determining that the MPLS BFD session is part of the plurality of MPLS BFD sessions, the egress ND transmits towards an ingress network device a BFD control packet including an ingress group identifier that uniquely identifies the plurality of MPLS BFD sessions at the ingress network device, and where the transmitting the BFD control packet causes an update of a set of two or more of MPLS BFD sessions from the plurality of MPLS BFD sessions identified based on the ingress group identifier.